White Fans 14 In Historic Performance For Blue Wahoos
July 27, 2025
written by Erik Bremer
Thomas White put together one of the most dominant performances in Minor League Baseball history Saturday night, striking out a career-high 14 batters over 5.0 scoreless innings as the Pensacola Blue Wahoos fell 4-2 to the Knoxville Smokies.
White, 20, the top prospect in the Miami Marlins organization, struck out 14 of the 17 men he faced in the most commanding start of his career. Scattering two singles without walking a batter, White tied a modern Southern League record by striking out eight consecutive batters from the final out of the first inning to the first out of the fourth inning. His 14 strikeouts were the most in a Minor League Baseball game this season, and second only to Tony Cingrani’s 15 strikeouts over 8.0 innings in 2012 for the most in by a single pitcher in Blue Wahoos history.
White struck out 13 of the final 14 batters he faced, a feat that has not been accomplished in Major League Baseball in the Expansion Era (since 1961).
The game was a low-scoring affair, with Knoxville starter Ryan Gallagher matching White’s zeroes and pitching into the seventh inning in a scoreless game. Johnny Olmstead broke the deadlock with a two-run homer in the seventh against Frankie Scalzo Jr. (W, 4-3), his 10th of the year to tie for the team lead.
The Blue Wahoos had gone 37-0 when leading after seven innings, but the Smokies put together a two-out rally in the bottom of the eighth inning to turn the tables. Jaylen Palmer beat out an infield single before Jefferson Rojas hit an RBI double off the left field wall. Pedro Ramirez walked, putting two runners aboard for BJ Murray Jr., Knoxville’s most potent power threat. The switch-hitting first baseman blasted a three-run shot off Nigel Belgrave (L, 4-1), ending a streak of 11 consecutive appearances without allowing an earned run for the Blue Wahoos righty and giving the Smokies a 4-2 lead.
Tyler Santana (S, 3) worked a spotless ninth to end Pensacola’s five-game winning streak and Knoxville’s seven-game losing streak.
The Blue Wahoos wrap up their series against the Smokies on Sunday afternoon.
FDLE: He Thought He Was Meeting A 14-Year Old Girl At the Movies, But He Was Busted
July 26, 2025
He thought he was meeting a 14-year old girl at the movies, an the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said he thought he had been grooming her for 10 months.
When he we meant to meet the girls at a local theater, he was met by an undercover state agent.
“No popcorn, no previews—just a one-way ticket to jail, five felony charges and no chance at a sequel,” FDLE said.
FDLE said 32-year-old Chad Anthony Forster, a resident of Allison Lane just behind Whataburger on Nine Mile Road, was charged with traveling to meet a minor for sex, soliciting a minor to engage in sexual activity and promoting the sexual performance of a child and two felony counts for sending harmful material to a minor.
The investigation began in September 2024 when Forster began communicating with an undercover agent, who was disguised as a juvenile girl, according to investigators. Throughout the course of the communication, Forster solicited the child persona to engage in sexual activity, including requesting child sexual abuse material and sending explicit images of himself.
Through continued investigative communication, the undercover agent agreed to meet at a local movie theater on Thursday, July 24. Once he arrived, FDLE agents arrested Forster.
He was transported to the Escambia County Jail and booked with bond set at $80,000.
FDLE said the arrest is a result of the agency’s statewide initiative to locate and arrest criminals soliciting children online for a sexual relationship online and sharing files depicting the sexual abuse of children.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
$21.8 Million, 3.5-Year Project Completed On Highway 90 Bridges Between Escambia, Santa Rosa
July 26, 2025
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has completed a $21.8 million bridge replacement project on Highway 90 over the Simpson River in Santa Rosa County, a frequent route between Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
The project included the reconstruction of the eastbound structure and widening of the westbound structure. The final configuration includes two 12-foot travel lanes (in each direction) with 10-foot outside shoulders flanked with bike lanes.
Additional improvements include:
Milling and resurfacing the bridge approaches.
Improving drainage, including reconstructing concrete curb and gutter.
Installing new signage and guardrail.
The speed limit, which was reduced during construction, was immediately returned to 55 mph.
Work began in January 2022.
Escambia Man Faces Max Of Life In Prison On Drug, Firearm Charges
July 26, 2025
An Escambia County man has pleaded guilty to federal drug and firearm charges.
Timothy Lamar McGee, 42, pleaded in federal court for possession of more than 500 grams of cocaine, tetrahydrocannabinol, and marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
According to documents, law enforcement executed a search warrant at McGee’s residence in September 2024. During a search of the residence, investigators located more than 600 grams of cocaine, more than 300 grams of tetrahydrocannabinol, more than 1,000 grams of marijuana, approximately $32,000 in United States currency, and four firearms.
McGee faces a minimum mandatory term of five years of imprisonment on each charge, to run consecutively, with the possibility of life imprisonment. He will be sentenced on October 1.
Century Reports 5,000 Gallon Spill At Wastewater Plant
July 26, 2025
The Town of Century reported a 5,000 gallon spill at their wastewater treatment plant on Friday, according to a report filed with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
Effluent pumps at the facility on Jefferson Avenue had an electrical issue that caused the treated wastewater to spill for seven and one-half hours.
The spill, according to the report, was cleaned by applying lime.
Pictured: The Century Wastewater Treatment Plant. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
New Heavy Equipment Retail Business Proposed For Highway 29 In Cantonment
July 26, 2025
A heavy equipment retail business is being proposed for Highway 29 in Cantonment.
Gibbs Equipment filed plans with the Escambia County Development Review Committee (DRC) for the business on 4.81 acres on at 1170 North Highway 29, on the east side of the highway just south of Neal Road. According to the application, there are two old houses on the property.
The plans include a proposed 11,900 square foot building, with about 25 parking spaces. Most of the retail lot would be gravel, with access to both Nealt Road and Highway 29.
The proposal is in the internal review process with DRC with a public meeting not yet set.
NorthEscambia.com graphic.
Wahoos Break Through Late, Win Fifth In A Row Over Smokies
July 26, 2025
witten by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos won their fifth game in a row on Friday night, beating the Knoxville Smokies 5-1 in a game that was scoreless until the late innings.
Blue Wahoos starter Orlando Ortiz-Mayr and Smokies starter Grant Kipp matched each other with 5.0 scoreless innings, and reliever Austin Roberts (W, 2-0) weathered a bases-loaded threat in the sixth inning to send the game to the seventh in a scoreless tie.
After a leadoff walk to Nathan Martorella, Ryan Ignoffo got the Blue Wahoos on the board with an RBI double on a sinking liner that skipped past Knoxville left fielder Andy Garriola. Two walks loaded the bases for Shane Sasaki, who laced a two-run double down the left field line for a 3-0 Blue Wahoos lead. A passed ball from catcher Casey Opitz capped a four-run frame that proved to be decisive.
With light rain falling in the final innings, the Blue Wahoos took advantage of erratic control from Smokies reliever Jacob Brentz to score an insurance run in the ninth with two walks and two balks. Josh Ekness (S, 9) earned the rare three-inning save, allowing an unearned run in the bottom of the ninth but locking down a 5-1 final.
The five-game winning streak matches Pensacola’s longest of the season, set previously on June 5-10 with wins over Columbus and Rocket City.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Smokies on Saturday night.
Federal Judge Orders Former Firefighter Held Without Bond in Child Porn Case
July 25, 2025
A federal judge this week ordered a former firefighter held without bond as he awaits trial on federal charges the U.S. Attorney’s Office says related o a decade-long pattern of producing and possessing child pornography
Trial for 48-year-old Garey A. Buscaino was set for September 15 at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola, according to an order issued this week.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office requested Buscaino be held without bond because the crime involves a minor victim, and he is a serious flight risk and poses a serious risk that he will obstruct or attempt to obstruct justice. The prosecution’s request was approved by United States Magistrate Judge Zachary C. Bolitho, and Buscaino was remanded into custody. The court appointed him a public defender. He is now being held without bond in the Santa Rosa County Jail.
A federal indictment charges Buscaino, who was assigned to the Beulah Fire Station, with the production of child pornography of four different minor females between 2015 and 2025. He is also charged with the possession of child pornography involving minors under the age of 12 years old.
If convicted, Buscaino faces up to 30 years’ imprisonment as to each minor victim for the production of child pornography and up to 20 years’ imprisonment as to the possession of child pornography involving minors under the age of 12 years old.
The case is being jointly investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg.
Previous State Charges From FDLE
In May, state charges were brought against Buscaino by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. He was charged with seven counts of video voyeurism of a child under 16 years of age, 30 counts of possession of child sexual abuse material, and one count of unlawful use of a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony.
FDLE’s investigation began in April 2025 after agents received a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), alerting agents to a cellphone user uploading child sexual exploitation files to a cloud account.
The investigation identified Buscaino as the account holder. FDLE said their investigation revealed that Buscaino had hidden video cameras and secretly recorded a juvenile in stages of undress.
The report states that FDLE agents located 96 images that appeared to be taken inside Buscaino’s home of a child about 12-14 years old “without the knowledge of the minor” between September 11, 2024, and April 10, 2025. FDLE said agents also located seven video files that “appeared to be recorded without the minor victim’s knowledge.”
“Each of the seven video files depicted the same minor victim nude while either dressing or undressing, in a circumstance where she had an expectation of privacy,” the report states. One five-and-a-half-minute video appeared to have been taken by a camera placed underneath a piece of furniture, agents said. Another video, according to the report, was taken with the camera inside a laundry hamper with holes in it.
On May 15, agents served search warrants at Buscaino’s primary residence and a secondary residence. Multiple electronic devices were seized, and a preliminary forensic review located several voyeurism videos and hundreds of files depicting the sexual abuse of children, investigators said.
During the execution of the search warrant, agents reported finding hidden cameras within Buscaino’s bedroom, including one disguised as an electronic cigarette and another disguised as a wall charger. Several GoPro-style cameras were also located.
“When questioned about the electronic devices within the residence, Buscaino invoked his right to legal counsel,” the FDLE report states.
Authorities said USB drives were recovered from inside the residence that contained child sexual abuse material, including children as young as four years of age being sexually abused.
FDLE said they also located approximately 1,000 images of child erotica stored with a cloud service provider and attributed to Buscaino. The images, FDLE said, depicted young children in sexually suggestive poses, but they did not meet the statutory requirements of child sexual abuse material.
Escambia County confirmed that Buscaino is employed as a county firefighter.
“We are aware of the arrest of Firefighter Garey Buscaino and are currently reviewing potential personnel action,” the county said in a statement after the arrest. “Although the charges filed against him are not related to his duties with Escambia County Fire Rescue, we will fully cooperate with law enforcement should they need any information from Escambia County as they conduct their investigation.”
Three Charged With Fentanyl Trafficking After Warrant Served On Fowler Avenue
July 25, 2025
Three Escambia County residents were arrested for fentanyl trafficking, and state and federal agents served a warrant on Fowler Avenue.
Austin Mitchell Chapman, 30, Laurie Ann Chapman, 53, and Amber Lynn Adams, 32, were each charged with trafficking fentanyl and related offenses. Laurie Chapman was also charged with maintaining a structure for drug activity.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Major Drug Squad and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) served a felony arrest warrant for Laurie Chapman in the 8700 block of Fowler Avenue, just a few blocks behind Lowe’s and Home Depot on Nine Mile Road, in support of an ongoing fentanyl trafficking investigation. FDLE said they also held arrest warrants for Adams and Austin Chapman, who were known to frequent the address.
FDLE reported locating 11.77 grams of suspected fentanyl in the home.
Austin Chapman and Adams remained in the Escambia County Jail without bond, while Laurie Chapman was jailed on a $125,500 bond.
Pictured top: (L-R) Austin Chapman, Laurie Chapman, and Amber Adams. Pictured inset: FDLE reported finding 11.77 grams of suspected fentanyl in Laurie Chapman’s residence on Fowler Avenue.
CDs, DVDs, Puzzles, Vinyl Records, Audio Books, And Puzzles In Library Sale On Saturday
July 25, 2025
Get ready to stock up on entertainment. The Friends of the West Florida Public Library is hosting an expanded “Special Summer Sale” set for Saturday, July 26, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Downtown Library, located at 239 North Spring Street in Pensacola. Admission to this one-day-only event is free.
The sale will include thousands of CDs, DVDs, and puzzles, along with vinyl records and audio books, all available at great prices. The music selection promises a wide variety of genres, while the DVD collection spans dramas, comedies, thrillers, documentaries, and many family-friendly options.
The single disk CDs, single title DVDs, and many puzzles will be priced starting at $2 each.
Stock photo.